PICODIVa European FP5 program
	Monitoring the diversity of photosynthetic picoplankton in marine waters

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Post-doctoral positions
Molecular Ecology of Marine Picoplankton

Post doctoral position	- Prokaryotic picoplankton	University of Warwick, UK	- reopened December 2001
Post doctoral position	- Eukaryotic picoplankton	Station Biologique de Roscoff, France	- filled

This EU-funded position is available starting early 2001 to investigate how genetic diversity among marine photosynthetic prokaryotes of the genera Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus is correlated with environmental adaptation. The project is part of an EU consortium project PICODIV (www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/PICODIV/index.html) with participating laboratories in France (co-ordinator), Germany, Spain & Norway. You should have a PhD and experience in molecular biology. You will be highly motivated and have a particular interest in applying molecular and biochemical techniques to the biological oceanography of ecologically important microorganisms.
The post is for two years at a salary on the RA1A scale.

Informal enquiries to Dr Dave Scanlan
tel : +44-24 76-528363; fax :44-24 76-523701 e-mail : Dave Scanlan (dscanlan@bio.warwick.ac.uk).
Information on applying can be obtained at : http://www.csv.warwick.ac.uk/jobs/

Please supply full C.V., a summary of research interests/experience, and details of two referees.

Additional details for this post:
PICODIV : Genetic analysis of the spatial and temporal dynamics of photosynthetic picoplankton communities. Molecular biology techniques will be used to investigate how genetic diversity among marine photosynthetic prokaryotes is correlated with particular environmental adaptation. We have recently observed genotypic variation among natural populations of the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus, which dominates the picophytoplankton in the world's oceans, associated with different depths in a stratified water column using 16S rRNA analysis and dot blot hybridisation technology (West & Scanlan 1999). Suitable oligonucleotide probes will be developed to extend this technology to the marine Synechococcus group. The spatial and temporal distribution of the major Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus genotypes will then be determined in natural water columns during a calendar year from the English Channel, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Gulf of Aqaba [Red Sea] Eilat, Israel, using various molecular ecological techniques including FISH. This will be compared with data obtained using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), to investigate total picophytoplankton community genetic diversity. Genotypic variation will be correlated with physical and chemical properties of the water column and to the phenotypic response of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus populations to environmental variables (see e.g. Scanlan et al., 1997).
References
West, N.J., and D. J. Scanlan. (1999). Niche-partitioning of Prochlorococcus populations in a stratified water column in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 2585-2591
Urbach, E., Scanlan, D.J., Distel, D.L., Waterbury, J.B., and Chisholm S.W. (1998). Rapid diversification of marine picophytoplankton with dissimilar light harvesting structures inferred from sequences of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus (Cyanobacteria). J. Mol. Evol.46:188-201.
Scanlan, D.J., Silman,N.J., Donald, K.M., Wilson, W.H., Carr, N.G., Joint, I., and Mann N.H. (1997). An immunological approach to detect phosphate stress in populations and single cells of photosynthetic picoplankton. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63: 2411-2420.


Nature, jan 2000

This position will be funded by the FP5 EU program PICODIV to start in April 2000 which focuses on the diversity of eukaryotic photosynthetic picoplankton in coastal and oceanic waters.

Emphasis will be on the following aspects:

• Isolation and description of novel picoplankton strains from coastal and oceanic waters using a combination of techniques (electron microscopy, HPLC pigment signature, rDNA gene sequences).
• Direct determination of the environmental diversity from rDNA gene sequences
• Quantitative use of rDNA probes (quantitative PCR) to monitor picoplankton diversity at three european coastal sites

Skills :

• The candidate is expected to have a strong academic background, to have published in international peer-reviewed journals and to be able to conduct independent research
• Experience with modern taxonomical approaches inolving rDNA genes on bacteria or unicellular eukaryotes (cloning and sequencing of environmental samples, phylogenetical analysis, DGGE, rRNA probes, quantitative PCR) will be critical
• Experience in algal taxonomy and algal culture will be highly desirable
• Working knowledge of the French language will be an essential prerequisite for rapid integration in our team

Starting date: Spring 2000
Duration: 24 to 30 months

Additional information on PICODIV : www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/PICODIV/index.html
Additional information on the Roscoff group : www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/phyto_en.html

If interested please supply by email:
- C.V. with published papers
- Summary of research interests/experience
- Adress of two referees.
Supply by regular mail a copy of each published paper

Send all materials to Daniel Vaulot (vaulot@sb-roscoff.fr)
Oceanic Phytoplankton team
Station Biologique de Roscoff
CNRS et Université Pierre et Marie Curie
BP 74, 29682 Roscoff, France
Ph: +33 (2) 98 29 23 34; fax :+33 (2) 98 29 23 24

Nature, jan 2000

Last updated 06 December 2001